IMAGINE AWARDS 2026 - TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Imagine Awards 2026

Thank you for your interest in Thornton Education Trust's (TET) Imagine Awards.

Is there a teacher who has done something brilliant with architecture or the built environment in their classroom — and deserves to be recognised for it? This is your chance to make that happen.

The Teacher of the Year Award celebrates primary and secondary teachers whose work helps pupils engage with the world around them — whether through a single unforgettable project or years of quiet, consistent commitment. We're not only looking for the dramatic or the large-scale; sometimes the most deserving teachers are the ones whose work has never had a spotlight on it.

You can nominate yourself, a teacher you've worked with or alongside as a built environment professional. Nominations are free and take five -ten minutes to complete.

If shortlisted, the nominated teacher will be contacted and invited to provide further information about their work.

Category:

The Teacher of the Year Award celebrates primary and secondary teachers who help children and young people explore, understand and engage with architecture, design, place and the wider built environment.

Please note: this form allows you to enter a third party nomination for a teacher. There is no cost to make a nomination under this category.

If you wish to enter another category, please use the separate submission forms provided on the website.

Important reminders:
- Please save your form as you go — the save option is available at the end of the form
- Submission deadline: Friday 23rd October 2026
- Judging will take place shortly after the deadline, and shortlisted entries will be notified
- If you have any questions,refer to our FAQs on our website for guidance before submitting or Contat imagineawards@thorntoneducationtrust.org
Your submisssion:

Don't worry if you can’t answer every question in full — judging is based on qualitative rather than strictly quantitative information.

Please note: we will contact the nominated teacher directly if their entry is shortlisted. By providing their details you are confirming you are happy for us to do so.

Now, you can scroll down and start to complete the submission.
1. Your Details
Teacher of the Year Category
Full Name (application contact)

First NameLast Name
Organisation
Job Title
E-mail
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCounty/Region

Postal CodeCountry
Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
2. About the teacher you are nominating
Nominee

First NameLast Name
Nominee current school
Nominee current job title
Primary or Secondary Teacher
Year Group
Nominee E-mail
example@example.com
Nominee Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
3. Tell Us About This Teacher
What made you want to nominate them?
If there's a specific moment, project, or lesson that stays with you — something you saw that made you think this person deserves to be recognised
How do they bring architecture, place or the built environment into their teaching?
This might be a particular activity they return to, a way of looking at the world they've passed on to their pupils, or simply an approach that makes their classroom different from others.
What difference has their work made to pupils?
Tell us anything you've seen or heard that suggests the work has had a real effect — however small or hard to measure.
Organisation Supporting documents:

Upload a File
Upload anything that helps bring this teacher's work to life, such as photographs, examples of pupil work, testimonials, evaluation summaries. You don't need polished or professional materials, a phone photograph or a handwritten pupil comment can tell us just as much as a formal report.You may upload up to 6 pages (A4) of supporting documents, which can include evidence such as statistics, evaluation summaries, images, press coverage, and testimonials. Accepted formats: PDF, ZIP, MP3, MPG, AVI, JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF. Max file size: 20MB.Note: Selected images may be used for press and social media. Cancelof
Key Image

Upload a File
Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, PDF. Max file size: 2MB. Images may be used for press and social media. Cancelof
Before You Submit Please confirm:
Should be Empty:

1. Your Details

2. About the teacher you are nominating

3. Tell Us About This Teacher

What made you want to nominate them?

How do they bring architecture, place or the built environment into their teaching?

What difference has their work made to pupils?